China reports human case of H3N8 bird flu

A woman in southern China has tested positive for H3N8 bird flu, local officials say, making it only the third time that the virus has been found in humans, although a previous strain may have caused the 1889 pandemic.

The Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in a brief statement released on Monday, said a 56-year-old woman from Zhongshan City had been infected with H3N8.

The woman, who has multiple myeloma and other underlying health conditions, had exposure to live poultry before falling ill, the statement said. Wild birds are also frequently found near her home.

Details about her condition have not been released.